Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-24
IELTS Writing Task 1 question
The charts below show the average percentages in typical meals of three types of nutrients, all of which may be unhealthy if eaten too much.
Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Student answer (Band 5.5)
The given charts illustrates the proportion of three types of meals nutrients , which is unhealthy if eaten too much .
overall , it can be seen that the dinner is the highest proportion in all of this typical meals . While , the breakfast have the lowest percentage .
In detail , in dinner sodium use 43 % , saturated fat use 37% , added sugar use 23 % by dinner , and it is lowest number in all of them . 14 % sodium use by the breakfast , while 16% saturated fat use by the breakfast , and same percentage use added sugar by the breakfast is 16 .
By contrast , lunch and snacks percentage fluctuate in all the typical meals . 29 % consumed sodium by the lunch , whereas 26% saturated fat consumed by the lunch , in lunch 19% added sugar is consumed . Added sugar is the highest percentage in snacks is 42 % , 14 % sodium and 21 % saturated fat consumed by the snacks in USA .
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the charts, identifying the highest and lowest nutrient proportions across the four meal categories. However, the analysis is somewhat mechanical and lacks a clear, cohesive summary of the trends. While you successfully identify that dinner has the highest proportions and breakfast the lowest, the description of the data is repetitive and occasionally inaccurate (e.g., stating 'it is lowest number in all of them' when referring to dinner). To improve, focus on grouping the data more logically rather than listing every percentage, and ensure the comparisons are precise. The overview is present but could be more effectively integrated to highlight the overall trend of nutrient consumption across the day.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inaccurate. For example, 'While,' is used incorrectly as a sentence starter, and the transition 'By contrast' does not effectively link the preceding information to the following paragraph. The flow between sentences is often disjointed, making the progression of ideas feel repetitive. To reach a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of linking words (e.g., 'furthermore', 'conversely', 'in comparison') and ensure that referencing (e.g., 'the former', 'the latter') is used to avoid repeating the same nouns throughout the text.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is somewhat limited and repetitive. You rely heavily on the word 'use' or 'consumed' to describe the data, which lacks variety. There are also issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'the dinner is the highest proportion' (the proportion of nutrients in dinner is highest) and 'same percentage use added sugar by the breakfast is 16'. To improve, try to use more precise verbs and nouns related to data description, such as 'account for', 'constitute', 'comprise', or 'a significant proportion'. Expanding your range of descriptive language will help you convey the information more naturally and accurately.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the response, particularly with subject-verb agreement and article usage. For instance, 'The given charts illustrates' should be 'The given charts illustrate', and 'the breakfast have' should be 'breakfast has'. Additionally, sentence structure is often simplistic or awkward, such as 'in dinner sodium use 43 %'. While the meaning is generally clear, these persistent errors in basic grammar and punctuation hinder the overall quality of the writing. To improve, focus on mastering subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles, and try to incorporate more complex sentence structures, such as relative clauses or participial phrases, to demonstrate greater control.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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